Even
as India’s freight forwarders (under
the aegis of the Federation of Freight Forwarders’
Associations in India, FFFAI, the apex body
of 28 customs clearance and freight forwarders
associations from across the country) prepare
to host the FIATA World Congress 2018 (FWC-2018)
in Delhi this September, the meet is attracting
worldwide attention.
Termed ‘The
Game Changer’ and ‘The biggest
event in the logistic industry in India,’
the Congress will be attended by more than
1,500 Indian and overseas delegates from different
parts of the world.
“The
association had been ‘trying to organize
this most important and prestigious international
logistics event’ in India for the last
couple of years,” said Debashis Dutta,
Past Chairman, FFFAI and Chairman, FIATA World
Congress 2018 Committee.

A
Dream Comes True

“It was my dream way back in 2013 (when
he was heading the association) to project
India in the world of logistics,” Dutta
told FlyingTypers.
“In 2015,
we bid to host the show and our opportunity
has come in 2018,” he said.
Dutta also
said that FWC-2018 would provide “a
huge opportunity to the country’s freight
forwarders and logistics industry “to
expand their business” as partners with
overseas counterparts who would be attending
the event.
“The
FFFAI,” Dutta said, “has created
this opportunity for the first time in the
history of freight forwarding and logistics
industry in India, and industry practitioners
should connect themselves with the world trade
and logistics market,” added Dutta.

Brand
India To The Fore

Emphasizing on showcasing Brand India through
the event, Dutta, along with a host of top
FIATA and FFFAI functionaries, were in Delhi
to meet government ministers and apprise them
about the meet.
FFFAI Chairman
Ashish Pednekar pointed out that the association
was bullish about the event in New Delhi.
“Our
government, which is very pro-active to facilitate
logistics industry in the country, has promised
full support to make the FWC 2018 a grand
success,” he said and informed that
Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Shipping, Road
Transport & Highways had confirmed his
participation.
A number of
other ministers were expected at the congress,
like the minister for Civil Aviation, Commerce
and MSME.

Out
On A Lim

“While international delegates at the
congress would like to know what is happening
in India, Indian freight forwarders can learn
about world practices,” said Stanley
Lim, Chairman of the FIATA Congress Committee.
“Most
of the top international freight forwarders
have set up their bases in India and before
long others too will come.
“India
already has cutting edge technology in IT
and this could be successfully used for the
logistics industry.
“That
is what the international freight forwarding
community wants... a strong link with global
players would benefit India,” he said.

India
Could Top China

Lim acknowledged that freight forwarders in
general were slow in adapting new technology,
but once they did so, they show their speed
in innovation.
“India
was a sleeping giant but now it has awakened
and it can do better than China,” Stanley
Lim proclaimed.

India
On The Half Shell

Lim expressed his confidence about the success
of FWC-2018 that he said was largely due to
the conducive environment for manufacturing,
the exim trade, and the logistics sector in
the country.
Commending
FFFAI’s leading role in developing freight
forwarding and logistics industry in association
with the government of India, he said:
“India
is well-prepared to host FWC-2018 in New Delhi
and it will be the most exciting international
logistics event.”
The Singapore-based
Lim also pointed out that it was time to groom
young logistics professionals (FIATA, in fact,
has a program to enthuse university graduates
to join the profession) so that they can come
forward and help the logistics industry flourish
in the country.
“Seminars
during the congress will be addressed by international
professionals, the delegates can look forward
to 800+ forwarders during the B2B sessions
that will span across the three days of the
Delhi FIATA World Congress.
“Here
will be the perfect forum for small and medium
as well as big business to interact and learn
how to develop their logistics and go global,”
said Pednekar.
“Visiting
freight forwarders will focus on the importance
of the logistics industry in India in view
of present government’s impetus on manufacturing,
trade facilitation, exim trade, and infrastructure
development,” Ashish Pednekar said.
Tirthankar
Ghosh
For More On The FIATA World Congress India
click here.

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